Garden Tool: Advanced vegetable gardeners who want go to the next level of self reliance will enjoy the attractive book by John Seymour, The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It (Dorling Kindersley, 2003, $30.00). This very practical book gives "how-to" instructions for a wide range of traditional living skills. How to raise (and butcher) poultry and rabbits, how to grow grain crops, how to make a methane digester to create energy and how to spin flax are just a few examples. The author's intention is to encourage readers to question how truly satisfying the modern life is compared to an honest day's work on the homestead. But even urban dwellers will find ideas for making their own food and craft products.
The simple life has gone digital, too. For articles and ideas on living a self-sufficient life, go online to Self-Sufficient Living, www.homestead.org/, and www.littlecountryvillage.com.

Gaia's garden : a guide to home-scale permaculture by Toby Hemenway.
White River Junction, Vt. : Chelsea Green Pub. Co., c2001.
Start healing the planet right in your own backyard! Learn about the principles of ecological garden design, water conservation strategies and supporting wildlife from Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture. Inspiring anecdotes make this book fun to read, while practical advise, illustrated examples and long lists of useful plants help gardeners start transforming their backyards right away.